Method of communications via e-mail with media file attachment

Abstract

The method of communications via e-mail with media file attachment incorporates advanced communications methods into an e-mail system while enhancing the delayed conversation effect inherent in communications via e-mail reply. User messages are recorded in media files and attached to e-mail letters. The media files include identification information associating the user message with an e-mail conversation, and are stored according to a predetermined scheme. Incoming file attachments are examined to determine first whether they are designated for use in this invention, and if so, second whether they are media files that are part of an existing conversation. If an incoming media file is designated as part of an existing conversation, links corresponding to past media files associated with the conversation are displayed. Designated media files that are not associated with an existing conversation are stored for reference in future conversations.

1 . A computerized method of communications via e-mail with media file attachment, comprising the steps of: 
 initiating on a computer system an outgoing e-mail letter upon signal by a user;    digitally recording a user message;    creating a media file containing said user message;    including in said media file identifying information for identifying the media file and for associating the media file with a conversation;    storing said media file;    attaching a copy of said media file to said e-mail letter; and    sending the e-mail letter with said media file attached to a recipient.    
   
   
       2 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of issuing a user prompt to begin recording said user message.  
   
   
       3 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein said user message is an audio/visual message  
   
   
       4 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein said user message is an audio message  
   
   
       5 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , wherein said user message is a visual message  
   
   
       6 . The computerized method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving on said computer system an e-mail reply to said e-mail letter, the reply including a media file containing a user message and identifying information for identifying the media file and for associating the media file with a conversation;    extracting said identifying information;    identifying previous e-mail messages and stored media files associated with said conversation; and    displaying links to said e-mail messages and stored media files associated with said conversation.    
   
   
       7 . A computerized method of communications via e-mail with media file attachment, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving in a computer system a received e-mail message that includes a media file containing identifying information for identifying the media file and for associating the media file with a conversation;    on receiving a user signal, initiating an e-mail reply to said received e-mail letter;    digitally recording a user message;    creating a media file containing said user message;    including in said media file identifying information for identifying the media file and for associating the media file with said conversation;    storing said media file;    attaching a copy of said media file to said e-mail letter; and    sending the e-mail letter with said media file attached to a recipient.    
   
   
       8 . The computerized method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of issuing a user prompt to begin recording said user message.  
   
   
       9 . The computerized method of  claim 7 , wherein said user message is an audio/visual message.  
   
   
       10 . The computerized method of  claim 7 , wherein said user message is an audio message.  
   
   
       11 . The computerized method of  claim 7 , wherein said user message is a visual message  
   
   
       12 . The computerized method of  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving on said computer system a next reply to said e-mail reply, the next reply including a media file containing a user message and information for associating the media file with a said conversation;    identifying previous e-mail messages and stored media files associated with said conversation; and    displaying links to said e-mail messages and stored media files associated with said conversation.